Walls of Jerusalem in winter

[bushnut]

Hi everyone, I am thinking of spending 4 or 5 days in Walls of Jerusalem in late August/early September. Thinking of starting off around the main walls area then heading south via Lake Ball and either getting out via Moses or Myrtle or even back via Junction Lake make it a circuit. We will keep the itinerary fairly flexible to account for the weather.

I haven't been there before but can only imagine that at that time of year the weather will be one of the challenges (and perhaps a highlight?). I am confident in the wet and with a bit of snow but haven't done deep snow before. Do you think hiring snow shoes will be necessary? If it does snow heavily how difficult will the nav become?

Also is it possible/advisable to go between Myrtle and Junction Lake tracks? i.e. off track?

Thanks!

[Scottyk]

I don't think snow shoes should be needed
I think you plan of a circuit is a good one.
Not sure about the off tack side but Chapman's book some good routes and tracks in the area

[DanShell]

Hi everyone, I am thinking of spending 4 or 5 days in Walls of Jerusalem in late August/early September. Thinking of starting off around the main walls area then heading south via Lake Ball and either getting out via Moses or Myrtle or even back via Junction Lake make it a circuit. We will keep the itinerary fairly flexible to account for the weather.

I haven't been there before but can only imagine that at that time of year the weather will be one of the challenges (and perhaps a highlight?). I am confident in the wet and with a bit of snow but haven't done deep snow before. Do you think hiring snow shoes will be necessary? If it does snow heavily how difficult will the nav become?

Also is it possible/advisable to go between Myrtle and Junction Lake tracks? i.e. off track?

Thanks!

I have walked 'off track' from Junction to Cloister. If your navigation is up to it you will find it quite easy. Theres only really a couple of sections that are not well marked.

As for the snow shoes I don't think its necessary but I haven't been up there in real heavy snow before so I could be wrong. The weather can come in fast and hard though as you would know. I had more trouble in another off track section up there with water holes...or to be specific not knowing the depth of them under snow and at times I found myself with one leg up to my crutch in water Just be prepared for heavy winds/rain/snow/sleet with a chill factor of b^%*y cold and you will ok if your navigational skills are sound.

I have gps data of the off track sections if you need them.

[DaveNoble]

Also is it possible/advisable to go between Myrtle and Junction Lake tracks? i.e. off track?

Thanks!

I have walked 'off track' from Junction to Cloister. If your navigation is up to it you will find it quite easy. Theres only really a couple of sections that are not well marked.

Between Junction Lake and Cloister Lagoon is following a reasonable track, but the original poster talked about going off track to Lake Myrtle from Junction Lake which I think would be a bit tricky - it looks a bit steep and scrubby going around lake Myrtle (assuming you walk up to Cloister Lagoon on the track then go off track from there to Lake Myrtle), and I would think it easier to walk back up to Lake Meston and follow the track from near Meston Hut.

Dave

[DanShell]

Also is it possible/advisable to go between Myrtle and Junction Lake tracks? i.e. off track?

Thanks!

I have walked 'off track' from Junction to Cloister. If your navigation is up to it you will find it quite easy. Theres only really a couple of sections that are not well marked.

Between Junction Lake and Cloister Lagoon is following a reasonable track, but the original poster talked about going off track to Lake Myrtle from Junction Lake which I think would be a bit tricky - it looks a bit steep and scrubby going around lake Myrtle (assuming you walk up to Cloister Lagoon on the track then go off track from there to Lake Myrtle), and I would think it easier to walk back up to Lake Meston and follow the track from near Meston Hut.

Dave

Ok I have misunderstood him. For the record last time I walked from Junction to Cloister there were a couple of short sections where there was no pad......or at least I couldn't find it or perhaps just lost it. The odd cairn or stick marker helped to keep me heading in the right direction though.

[Nuts]

Can't imagine wanting to do that at the time, heading off track, covering that ground in a first visit.. maybe given Really good weather?

Typical forecast wet, perhaps windy, definitely cold.. tracks will be welcome. In deep snow, entirely possible, track markers, so long as you can still find them, will be welcome. In deep snow it's going to be easier to move & quicker with snowshoes.

If you do get lucky and have fine days Bushnut, a set of ice cleats can make the track sections (and peak climbing) more enjoyable.

[corvus]

We did a winter trip up there several years ago via Jacksons Creek pad to Myrtle and we would not have been able to complete the walk without snow shoes and in fact we named this Stroll almost Meston as we ended up exiting via the Lake Bill Track with fun and games in the Snow on Blizzard Plain with each of us needing to take point to break in a track ,lots of Snow on the lower bushes and us needing to really just walk on a bearing to the Northern end of the Plain.
The tracks up there can be difficult to follow in good conditions almost impossible when under Snow however Junction to Cloister is a defined pad and not off Track as such and somewhat indistinct in many places but you are heading up a valley and would be hard to get "lost"
Check this out
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=2658&p=30470&hilit=Almost+Meston#p30470

[corvus]

On that particular night in my -5 degree Down Bag I wore my fleece pants ,Down Jacket ,socks and beanie to keep warm ,the Fly I erected enabled us to cook in comparative shelter even after the big dump overnight ,well worth including for a group walk IMHO.

[DanShell]

Check this out
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=2658&p=30470&hilit=Almost+Meston#p30470

haha love it. It would pay to take snow shoes up there then if theres plenty of snow forecast

[bushnut]

Thanks everyone, really appreciate the advice.

I think snow shoes will be a good idea just in case. I'll look into renting some in Launnie.

Thanks for clarifying Dave - sorry I wasn't more specific in my original post. I was talking in terms of going off-track between Myrtle Lake Track and Junction Lake Track (meeting at the north end of Lake Adelaide). I think this will have to be decided upon at the time depending on the conditions. I assume that it will be steep but having Lake Louisa as a marker and basically sticking to a due east bearing we should be ok in reasonable conditions.

[corvus]

In that area in Winter as a Scout I always like to Be Prepared so Snow Shoes for this trip would be a must for me having experienced adverse conditions as previously posted.

[corvus]

Thanks everyone, really appreciate the advice.

I think snow shoes will be a good idea just in case. I'll look into renting some in Launnie.

Thanks for clarifying Dave - sorry I wasn't more specific in my original post. I was talking in terms of going off-track between Myrtle Lake Track and Junction Lake Track (meeting at the north end of Lake Adelaide). I think this will have to be decided upon at the time depending on the conditions. I assume that it will be steep but having Lake Louisa as a marker and basically sticking to a due east bearing we should be ok in reasonable conditions.

You have me confused the North end of Lake Adelaide is around 12km from Junction Lake so I can only suspect you intend to attempt to battle the terrain from the northern end of Louisa to the Lake Adelaide track? rather you than me as the scrub up there can be horrendous and IMHO not worth the effort even more so at that time of the year.

[Nuts]

Check this out
viewtopic.php?f=9&t=2658&p=30470&hilit=Almost+Meston#p30470

haha love it. It would pay to take snow shoes up there then if theres plenty of snow forecast

Haha, are those hats compulsory? (Nice beanie btw FF!).

Yes, i'd go by the forecast, or if any change of snow just take snow shoes. Otoh ice cleats are probably more useful, given the choice will likley be for movement in better weather. When there's not much snow, just ice, some sections of that track loop get comically slippery!

It's not far from JL track through to Myrtle. Iv'e not been on the track to the/immediately north of Lake Myrtle (from the old hut-site?) but suspect it doesn't follow the lake around far?

[GPSGuided]

Some YouTube of snow in the area.

http://youtu.be/7GxdbSwj4_g

[Scottyk]

Thanks everyone, really appreciate the advice.

I think snow shoes will be a good idea just in case. I'll look into renting some in Launnie.

Thanks for clarifying Dave - sorry I wasn't more specific in my original post. I was talking in terms of going off-track between Myrtle Lake Track and Junction Lake Track (meeting at the north end of Lake Adelaide). I think this will have to be decided upon at the time depending on the conditions. I assume that it will be steep but having Lake Louisa as a marker and basically sticking to a due east bearing we should be ok in reasonable conditions.

You have me confused the North end of Lake Adelaide is around 12km from Junction Lake so I can only suspect you intend to attempt to battle the terrain from the northern end of Louisa to the Lake Adelaide track? rather you than me as the scrub up there can be horrendous and IMHO not worth the effort even more so at that time of the year.

I have been from Lake Louisa to Lake Adelaide a couple of time (joining the northern ends of the lakes) and yeah there is a bit of tea tree to push through but I don't think it was too bad, or maybe my memories have made it seem a bit easier that it was. It was a few years ago and there is no track that we found.
There is a rough track that follows the northern side of Juno Creek to Lake Louisa from the road. It more or less follows the spur beside that creek and is easy enough to follow with occasional makers on trees. I think last time I went past someone had taped the start of the track but it is about 50m back from the Juno Creek bridge. There also used to be a axe cut little stump to mark it also but I couldn't see that last time.
All of this might not be relevant as I agree with corvus in that it is a little confusing as the route your trying to take.

[bushnut]

Thanks scottyk - that is exactly what I am trying to do:

North end of Blizzard Plain head NE, around northern end of Lake Louisa and then to the northern end of Lake Adelaide.

Sorry if I wasn't clear!

[Scottyk]

Thanks scottyk - that is exactly what I am trying to do:

North end of Blizzard Plain head NE, around northern end of Lake Louisa and then to the northern end of Lake Adelaide.

Sorry if I wasn't clear!

I suppose you could do it that way. The shore line of Louisa on the Northern end is mostly tall wet forest with so fairly easy to move through but I haven't been south of the Juno Creek exit so not sure about that bit but it should be ok. Lake Louisa has a nice little pebble beach at the northern end which is ok to put a tent on but that may be under water in winter. The best camping is at the northern end of Lake Adelaide.
If I wanted to do that route I would just walk straight to Louisa via the track/route I described above, only takes about 1.5 hours to get to Louisa and you park the car at the Lake Myrtle track car park which is not far along the road past Juno Creek.
There is a very brief description of the track here http://tastracks.webs.com/merseyvalley.htm#488721335 see Juno Creek Track

[bushnut]

Good to know that at least some of the way is doable!

We plan on starting off through Herods, Dixons, Lake Ball and then onto Meston Hut. The reason we are planning on doing it that way is that we are hoping to come from Meston Hut (or around there), link up with the Junction Track at the northern end of Lake Adelaide and then exit via Trappers so it will make a circuit over a few days.

The plan is to leave a car at the beginning of the Jerusalem Track and another at the beginning of the Lake Myrtle Track on Mersey Rd. This will give us some contingency in case things take longer than expected or we decided to slow it down and not make the circuit.

[Scottyk]

Good luck with your walk.
You can always drop down from Louisa from Adelaide and exit via Juno creek track if you still up for a bit of off track work at the end of the walk.
The walk up from Adelaide to link up with the main Walls track is boring in my opinion. I think the visit to Louisa is a worthwhile way out if you have the time and energy.

[bushnut]

Thanks everyone. Really appreciate it.

We aiming for late August/early September so I think snow will be the order of the day!